Pao Hana! - well, almost

Here are a few of my favorite finished sketches from a storybook I've been illustrating. A couple are close crops so as not to give away the whole thing! Enjoy!

Snow White and Rose Red

I'm in the midst of a retelling of this old Grimm's Fairytale, and thought I should share some of my character sketches of Snow White, Rose Red and the Bear. I need a good name for the Bear though, he's a prince under enchantment...

Technology's Imact on Social Interaction

Yahoo Article: "High Tech Kids Lost in Face-to-Face Relationships"

It took me a little while to think about how I actually felt about this article. Then I realized that the direction of discussion was missing an important point. - It's not text messaging, social network websites, cell phones or computers that is impacting face-to-face relationships, but the fact that these devices are used as an excuse for already poor social habits. Ones which are formed in the day to day experiences one has at home. Yes, it's all in the family.

I happen to be a "child of the 90's" - early nineties, but still grew up with the notion of social interaction, over the internet, with people I have never met personally. Yet, I still prefer to have real time physical interaction with an individual than any number of technological communication. Even the fact that other adults (many of which far elder than I), use their iPhones and PDAs and Blackberries during meetings just goes to show that it is not a matter of "growing up with technology", but rather a much more elemental factor - a matter of ethics. One does not learn communication through technology, but through the interactions that one experiences as a child before learning to use said technologies.

It has been a growing, although not so foreign, trend for parents to be unavailable to their children on a face-to-face basis, due to work, schedule, or any number of things. Often times children are given a cell phone as a means of communicating with their parents, but then learn to use it for all of their communication needs. They then learn, from this example, to only use this extended form of communication as their primary method. Interestingly though, I have yet to see children who play sports or are involved in other social activities with other children to exhibit problems interacting socially on a face-to-face basis. Simply going to school is not the answer - the setting of the classroom does not specifically allow for social interaction.

As for the adults in this world that continue to bring their electronic devices to meetings that are then a distraction translates from a problem not so dissimilar from the aforementioned. This type of self-gratuitous distraction stems from the individual's work ethic. It is not a form of social retardation. These people are actually social butterflies and have not been able to control their need for communicating at all times with other people - most of whom they already know personally. The work ethic of an individual is always instilled at an early age and has as much to do with parenting as does the ability to communicate.

I do not think that "this is a phase" or that it is only a trend that will wane with a slackening of popularity. On the contrary, social networking sites are growing exponentially on a daily basis. The name of the site may change, but the need for people to connect on some level or another with other people will still be there - albeit a more remote type of connection. For those that have hundreds of people on their "friends" list that they have not met, I encourage them to reach out and actually meet some of them. I can proudly say that I have actually met personally, at least once, almost everyone on my list save for maybe 5-10 individuals. I know people who will not "friend" others whom they have not met personally. It really all boils down to a matter of choice. Internet interaction only becomes a crutch if an individual does not recognize or engage in any type of one-on-one social interaction.

Comic Con 2009

It was a time to be had by all - in so many ways. If you are a professional illustrator, writer, designer, film maker - with a penchant for the world of comics/scifi/fantasy - then you MUST attend the International Comic Convention that is held in San Diego, CA once a year. I have yet to attend the SCBWI Conference (in less than two weeks), and I am sure that Comic Con is probably one of the best experiences for networking and absorbing information regarding the industry. There were tons of books to be had as well as seminars and panels from some of the most prominent figures in the industry. I was priviledged to have heard a living legend speak, a panel of Master artists of Disney share their sentiments on days gone by, and even got to shake the hand of one of my inspirations!

The news has already been out, but Archaia Comics has teamed up with Jim Henson Company to produce master works of graphic novels to be released within the next year. I had personally approached one of their directors before the panel on Friday afternoon and they had informed me that they were only currently working with artists already within the company. This sounded a little odd to me at first, but at the panel they let the cat out of the bag. None other than Brian Froud himself will be working on creating the upcoming series of "The Dark Crystal" and possibly "Labyrinth" as the artist. Tough for little guys like me, but also very cool since I am such a fan of his work! I can't wait to see it when it finally does come out!


There were several instructional panels/seminars that I attended. Some were truly informative, but some were solely there to sell their new product. Which is fine, but can be annoying when you are trying to ask questions and they retort with "well you don't have to worry about that if you buy {insert product here}." Another thing that I realized after going to several of these, is that if you already are a professional you probably won't learn too much from the instruction demos as say an amatuer. Nothing wrong with that of course, but it's nice to get that kind of self evaluation down in such a large setting of individuals.

Everything though, from the talks, to the exhibition hall was inspiring!! Absolutely a paradise for someone such as myself. There were thousands upon thousands of people there, but I felt that I had made a few connections - however fletting they may have been. Listening to Ray Bradbury on my last day there reconfirmed the growing feeling that I had the day before when I shook Ciruelo's hand. That I belong in this industry, that I am an artist, and that I am doing what I love. That there is nothing more important in life than being able to do what it is you love no matter how hard it might be to acheive some goals. Perservering through the difficulties and to master the skills before throwing them away to create anew.

Beauty and the Beast: Native American Style

Here are a couple of sketches I'm turning into watercolor illustrations. Will be part of my updated portfolio for the conferences this summer. A sort of preview for some of ya'll.

Watercolor Sketch

This was done in the half light of a bar in Hollywood. Come see me in action on Thursday nights at the Falcon on Sunset Blvd. :) Won't be there this week, but I will be there next!

BUY ART NOW!

Well... if you want really. I support all artists and I try to buy others' work when I can afford it. :) So, in my attempt at licensing, please feel free to drop by my page at Artist Rising and buy a print or two if you feel so inclined. I also have one original piece for sale (see below)... frame included! There are still other originals in the series I would sell, but I wanted to see if anyone would be interested in this one first.

http://www.artistrising.com/galleries/blakndrose